Jordan: Culture & Nature In Depth

Name: Jordan: Culture & Nature In Depth
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

12 Days Excluding Flights From

12 Days from

~~£ 2249~~ £ 2049

5.0/5 from

Culture

Activity Level

Easy & Moderate

Comfort Level

Classic

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group

Activity :

Culture

Group Size :

4 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

AXD

Carbon Footprint :

30.9kg CO2e per person per day

Visit all of Jordan’s Unesco sites, plus nature reserves and hidden treasures along with the classic highlights

This 12-day trip to Jordan is a great way to appreciate all the country has to offer. We visit some of the less explored archaeological sites, stay in lodges and cabins in nature reserves run by Jordan’s Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature away from the usual tourist centres, try home cooked food and of course visit all the main highlights such as Petra, Wadi Rum and Jerash along the way.

Highlights

Enjoy two full days in Petra, the Red Rose City
Take a four hour 4x4 tour of Wadi Rum
Visit desert castles, steeped in centuries of history
Explore the Roman city of Jerash
Take in views of the Sea of Galilee from Gadara ruins at Umm Qais
Spot migratory birds in the Azraq Wetlands
Float in the Dead Sea in a quiet spot away from most hotels
Visit all six of Jordan's Unesco World Heritage Sites

Key Information

Accommodation: 2 Superior nights (lodge/cabin), 7 Classic nights (5 hotel, 2 lodge/cabin), 1 Simple night (Bedouin camp). Cabins are run by Jordan's Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature.
Travel by air-conditioned minibus and 4x4 in Wadi Rum
Group normally four to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16

Countries visited: Jordan

What's Included

All breakfasts, one lunch and four dinners
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Arrival and departure transfers

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

TRIP

AXD - Jordan: Culture & Nature In Depth

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Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

For flights call us on 0203 733 5948 or enquire when booking online

Regional flights available

Competitive flight prices

Specialist Flight Support

ATOL protected

Itinerary

Amman Madaba

Welcome to Amman, the capital of Jordan, where our adventure begins. There are free transfers to the hotel from Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) for all customers today. Please note, transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.

Accommodation: Hotel Khan Khediwe (or similar)

Following breakfast, we have our welcome briefing, then head out to explore Amman around mid-morning.

We leave the hotel and head on foot to the Roman amphitheatre. Constructed in the second century, when Amman was called Philadelphia, the amphitheatre is built into a hillside. We then continue by vehicle to the ruins of Amman Citadel, which sits on the city’s highest hill. The site has been inhabited by various civilisations from the Bronze Age onwards and there are Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad structures visible today.

We’ll continue to the Jordan Museum. The largest museum in the country is dedicated to the history and cultural heritage of Jordan. Permanent exhibits include the Ain Ghazal statues, the earliest large-scale human figures and some of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Accommodation: Khan Khediwe (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

We leave Amman early this morning and drive about an hour to the town of As Salt which is built across three hills. The town has been settled since at least the Iron Age and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a Place of Tolerance and Urban Hospitality. In the final 60 years of the Ottoman period, the region was settled by merchants from Syria, Nablus and Lebanon. The lack of segregation between Christians and Muslims as the city developed forms part of the reason behind its UNESCO status. While in As Salt, we’ll visit the As Salt Archaeological Museum, Abu Jaber Museum – one of the most significant historic buildings in Jordan and Al Hammam Street – famed for its shops and architecture and named after a popular 19^th century bath house.

After a drive of about an hour and a half we reach Pella, an important city in Roman times. Most of the remains date to the Byzantine period. Following a fairly short visit, we continue our journey north to Umm Qais, about another hour away. On arrival in Umm Qais, we will have lunch (included) cooked by a local family and served in their home. This a feast of food from northern Jordan.

After lunch, we visit the ruins at Umm Qais, Gadara. In a spectacular situation with views to the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights, Gadara is a Decapolis city with many monuments covering a large area. It is a fascinating place to explore. From Umm Qais, we drive for a bit over an hour to Ajloun where we stay the night in comfortable cabins in Ajloun Forest Reserve, part of Jordan’s Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) Wild Jordan Project.

Accommodation: Ajloun Cabins

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

We start the day by visiting Ajloun Castle. This atmospheric 12^th century Muslim castle was built under the rule of sultan and military leader Saladin. It was originally accessible only by drawbridge.

We drive to Jerash and visit the ruins of Gerasa. This was one of the 10 wealthy, self-governing cities of the Decapolis, and was famous throughout the Roman empire for the luxurious lifestyle of its inhabitants. Buried for centuries under blown sand, Jerash is Jordan’s largest and most impressive Roman site. There are colonnaded avenues, theatres and temples. The temple of Zeus is particularly impressive.

From Jerash, we drive for about two hours into Jordan’s eastern desert to the small town of Azraq and Azraq Lodge where we stay for the night. Part of the lodge was originally a 1940s British military field hospital. The staff at the lodge reflect the diverse population of Azraq and include Chechens, Druze and Bedouin. The buffet dinner is prepared by a local Chechen family.

Accommodation: Azraq Lodge

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

We start the day with a visit to Azraq Wetlands Reserve, an interesting site managed by the RSCN. The wetlands are an important stopover for migratory birds and there are a series of walkways and hides.

We visit Azraq’s large, black-basalt castle, which served as Lawrence of Arabia’s headquarters during the Arab Revolt. This is the first of several sites we visit today which together are known as the Desert Castles.

Qasr Amra is a Unesco site and is noted for its extensive fresco paintings, which cover virtually all the interior walls. The paintings include themes such as hunting, dancing, musicians, bathing, cupids, and personifications of history, philosophy and poetry. Next stop is at Qasr Kharana, thought to have been constructed during the Umayyad Dynasty. The purpose of the building is still the subject of debate with theories including a Crusader castle and resting place for travellers.

We head onwards to Iraq Al Amir. Here we visit Qasr Al-Abed, a pre-Roman construction thought to have been built by the Jewish Tobiad family as a villa or fortified palace. We will also visit the Iraq Al-Amir women’s co-operative. Established by the Noor Al-Hussein Foundation, the aim of the co-operative is to make the women involved financially independent. Hand-made paper, woven fabrics, ceramics and food are produced.

We travel onwards to our second Unesco World Heritage Site of the day – Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where Jesus of Nazareth is believed to have been baptised by John the Baptist. There are Roman and Byzantine remains including a number of chapels and churches and this is a site of Christian pilgrimage.

We end the day by driving along the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, to Mujib Chalets where we stay the night. The chalets are right by the shores of the sea and offer a calm and peaceful place for a dip in the salty waters away from the large hotels elsewhere along the Dead Sea shoreline.

There are approximately four hours of driving today.

Accommodation: Mujib Chalets

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

We begin with a drive of about 40 minutes to Al Numeira Environmental Association. The association’s mission includes raising the environmental awareness of the local community and the promotion of water conservation techniques. We’ll spend about 45 minutes here and then drive south towards Aqaba, a journey of about four hours. We’ll visit Berenice Beach, where we can spend a couple of hours at the Red Sea, before heading onwards to Wadi Rum, a further hour away.

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Wadi Rum consists of dramatic sandstone mountains rising from a sandy desert floor. It was here that Lawrence of Arabia and Prince Faisal assembled the Arab tribes for the attack on Aqaba in the First World War and also where sections of the 1962 epic film were shot.

We stay in a private Bedouin camp used only for Exodus guests where we enjoy Bedouin hospitality with a traditional dinner called zarb, which is cooked underground. After dinner, we learn about Bedouin culture and music.

Accommodation: Exodus Private Camp (permanent Bedouin camp)

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Our Bedouin hosts take us for an approximately four-hour 4×4 ride to explore some of the highlights of the dramatic landscapes of the Wadi Rum protected area. We’ll sample some Bedouin tea along the way.

We have the option of taking a camel ride in Wadi Rum today (extra cost).

We leave Wadi Rum behind and drive to Wadi Musa, the town adjacent to the Petra archaeological site. The journey takes about two hours. On arrival, we’ll visit the Petra Museum in preparation for exploring the site itself tomorrow.

Hotel rooms in Petra are in high demand. As a result, standards and service levels tend to be more hit and miss than in places we stay elsewhere on this trip.

Accommodation: Standard hotel – see accommodation section for more detail

A small number of departures use a superior (4 star) hotel for the three night stay in Petra – these are identified in the Dates and Prices section: “Superior hotel in Petra”.

Meals included: Breakfast

Enjoy two days exploring Petra. The so-called Red Rose City was hidden for centuries until the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812. It was founded by the Nabateans, an Arab tribe that arrived here in the sixth century BCE. Building at Petra began in the third century BCE and continued through the Roman period, financed by taxes levied on the desert caravans. Two features of Petra are unique: firstly, it is a city made defensible by being built down a series of chasms, rather than on a hilltop. Secondly, it is built directly into the rock – beautiful red-and-yellow sandstone carved into the most impressive facades, which glow in the sunlight.

To enter Petra we must begin by walking down a narrow chasm, known as the Siq. Unveiled at the end is El Khazneh, the Treasury. This is just the first breathtaking sight of a remarkable day. Continuing to the city centre, we pass the houses and tombs of the rich citizens and the remarkable scale of the site begins to unveil itself. An optional walk can then be done up 750 steps to El Deir, the Monastery, with its superb facade topped by a huge urn.

On the second day, your guide will take you back into the site. You can either hike up to the High Place of Sacrifice (unaccompanied) or explore other parts of the city further. Only a few people attempt to visit the High Place as it can be quite arduous and is not recommended for those who are unsure of their fitness or are uncomfortable with heights. However, those who do make it to the top are rewarded with wonderful views over parts of the site visited on the previous day.

During our time in Petra, we usually have the option of dinner with a local family on one evening (payable locally).

Accommodation: Standard hotel – see accommodation section for more detail

Meals included: Breakfast

We begin the day with a short drive to Little Petra. The purpose of Little Petra is not clear; however, archaeologists believe it was probably a suburb of Petra where visiting traders on the Silk Road may have stayed. Today we enter the Unesco World Heritage site of Wadi Rum, where dramatic sandstone mountains rise from the sandy desert floor. It was here that Lawrence of Arabia and Prince Faisal assembled the Arab tribes for the attack on Aqaba in the First World War and also where sections of the 1962 epic film were shot.

Next stop is Shobak Castle, about 45 minutes’ drive away along the King’s Highway. This Crusader castle was built in 1115 by King Baldwin I. The castle has catacombs, a watchtower, Christian carvings and Islamic tablets.

We continue along the King’s Highway for another 40 minutes to Dana Village. The village sits in the Dana Biosphere Reserve and dates to the 15^th century with a mix of ruined and restored buildings. We take a walk through the village, through terraced gardens, passing craft workshops and seeing original Ottoman architecture. We stay the night in RSCN run accommodation in the village.

Accommodation: Dana Guesthouse

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

We leave Dana behind and drive for about two hours along the King’s Highway, a beautifully scenic route through the hills to Kerak. An ancient Crusader castle, Kerak is maze of dark halls and passageways. It rises imposingly above the town. On clear days views stretch to the Dead Sea and Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

We drive onwards for about an hour and a half to Umm ar-Rasas. This little-visited Unesco World Heritage site was initially developed as a Roman military camp and grew into a town from the fifth century. It is unexcavated and has remains from the Roman, Byzantine and early Muslim periods. The ruins contain several churches and the impressive mosaic floor in the Church of St Stephen is a highlight.

From Umm ar-Rasas, we head to Madaba, about 45 minutes away where we visit St George’s Church. Here we admire the mosaic floor, considered the oldest map of Palestine in existence. We then make the short drive to Mount Nebo; from this 2,295ft (700m) high viewpoint overlooking the Dead Sea to Palestine and Israel beyond, Moses is said to have first seen the Promised Land.

Accommodation: Black Iris II

Meals included: Breakfast

Breakfast marks our final meal, an excellent chance to reminisce about an adventure packed with excitement. To make your return journey home easier, there’s a free shared transfer back to Amman airport.

Meals included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Although this is a cultural trip, some days (such as those in Petra) can be long and tiring. All visits to Petra require a reasonable amount of walking, and to do the optional 850 steps up to the monastery, or the climb up to the High Place of Sacrifice, you should have a good level of fitness. Your leader can provide you with further advice about these hikes. It is not advisable to do the High Place of Sacrifice if you suffer from vertigo, as there are some very steep, narrow steps and cliffs. The leader will show where the route to the High Place of Sacrifice starts, but does not accompany people wishing to take this route.

While camping in Wadi Rum, please be aware that, while the campsite does have plumbed toilets and showers, it is basic and hot water may be limited. Our private Exodus camp is, however, often mentioned as a trip highlight by many of our guests.

In very rare instances, we may need to amend the order of the itinerary, but we will ensure that all the elements of the itinerary are still included and site visits are of the same duration.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Joining Instructions

Key information

Recommended arrival time: Hotel check-in is from 2pm
Airport: Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 40 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers.

Catching your return flight

Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) from the end hotel.

Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Amman
Location end: Madaba

Vaccinations and Health

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements; however, polio, tetanus and typhoid vaccines are all recommended.

Passport

Jordan passport information

It is essential that we have your full passport details at least two weeks before the start of your trip (or at the time of booking for late bookings). This is required for the free visa (see below for eligibility details) and additionally, has to be supplied in advance to the tourism police, hotels and sights we’ll be visiting. If we are not provided with accurate passport information in advance, problems may be encountered during the trip and you may incur extra costs.

Visa

Jordan

Visas are required by most nationalities and can be obtained at the border or Amman airport.

We will arrange a free visa (usually 40 Jordanian dinars) for travellers booking a tour and any pre-tour arrangements through us, provided we receive full passport and flight details at least two weeks before arrival.

You will need to pay for the visa if we do not have these details two weeks before arrival or you are making your own pre-tour arrangements (ie extra nights before the tour that are not booked through Exodus).

Our airport representative will meet and assist you with obtaining the free visa on arrival in Jordan at Customs & Immigration. They will be carrying an Exodus sign.

Food & Drink

All breakfasts and five evening meals are included on this trip.

When not half board, we usually eat in local restaurants and the leader arranges bookings for those in the group who would like to join. We suggest you budget around 20 Jordanian dinars (US$28) per non-included meal. If you are vegetarian, please note that main meals are limited in choice; however, meze is almost always available in restaurants and is a good, filling vegetarian choice. There is a good selection of seafood available by the Red Sea. At the Wadi Rum camp, we enjoy a traditional dinner called zarb, which is cooked underground. This consists of rice with a selection including chicken, lamb and vegetables. Vegetables are cooked separately from the meat.

Alcohol is available in Jordan, but not widely. Many hotels do not sell alcohol but will often allow it to be brought in from elsewhere. It is best to plan ahead if you’ll want a drink, your tour leader will be able to tell you what’s possible and may be able to arrange a stop at a supermarket or liquor store (depending on location). In Petra, the unique Cave Bar in Petra Guesthouse is open to the public. A less expensive option is the bar in the Petra Palace Hotel which is also open to all.

Weather

Spring and autumn are popular in Jordan as it is cooler – around 24C (75F) in the day and 8C (46F) at night. Rain is likely, but protracted bad weather isn’t. It is hot and dry, but not unpleasant, throughout Jordan in the summer. Daytime maximum temperatures are around 32C (89F) in Amman. Jerash temperatures are the same.

Wadi Rum on average in summer is around 30C (86F) though it can get as high as 40C (104F). At night, it is usually around 10C (50F) cooler. In winter, it is much cooler, reaching as low as 10ºC during the day. In the evening it is around 0C (32F). There are occasions when there is rain or even snow in the desert. If weather conditions require, we may need to modify the itinerary or the camp location for your comfort and safety.

Aqaba is very hot when the air is still, but there is usually a breeze. Rain is unusual but possible. The Dead Sea air temperatures vary from around 14C (57F) in winter, nearing 40C (104F) in summer. The water temperature doesn’t drop below 20C (68F).

As with many countries in the world, seasons can go on longer than usual, so it is advisable to always check the weather of the country you are travelling to a week or two before your trip so you can pack appropriately.

TRIP

AXD - Jordan: Culture & Nature In Depth

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Hotels, lodges, cabins and desert camp

Just like the trip itself, the accommodation is delightfully varied. We stay in four different properties run by Jordan’s Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN): in Ajloun Forest Reserve, Azraq, at the Dead Sea and in Dana village. These are unique places to stay and support nature reserves and local communities. Typically, we use three-star hotels in Amman, Petra and Madaba. We also spend a night in our private Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, a truly memorable experience.

Amman: Hotel Khan Khediwe (nights 1-2)